Can a simple life lived in an extraordinary fashion make a difference in our world? For those of us who knew Evelyn Samuelson Backlund, who died Friday at the age of 96, the answer would be a resounding yes.
Friends and family bear testimony to a life well lived: So many times we were privileged to hear many say, "Such a beautiful lady; We have sweet memories of your mom; One of the most amazing women I've ever known; Your mom was a fabulous lady!; She lived a long, loved life!; Beautiful, amazing lady, who loved her family more than anything!; She was a precious lady!; She has been like a mom to me since I lost mine and even long before; Lovely lady in body and spirit." These thoughts, and others, are a testimony less of what she did, but rather who, and whose, she was. Evy (Granma), as she was known to us, was born into a humble home as an only child in 1918 in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in 1936. She met Fred Backlund, the love of her life, at church as a teenager and eventually they married in Mineral Wells Texas, during WWII, just before he was sent to the European Theater. Shortly thereafter, she drove a Model A Ford with two friends from Minnesota to San Jose, California, to work as a bookkeeper in a wartime factory. After the war, husband and wife were reunited in Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked as a bookkeeper while Fred was employed as a dental technician. Life later took them to Clinton, Iowa, Waterford, Michigan, and finally to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, she gave birth to three sons, Larry, Mike, and Tim, as well as her "princess", daughter DeAnn. Evy worked at a variety of jobs, as a bookkeeper, secretary, and assistant librarian; she played the violin and sang for years in a number of church choirs; she loved traveling, reading, and socializing. But mostly, she reveled in the love of friends and family, and left waves of affection in her wake. Evy taught and modeled compassion, respect, humor and fidelity. Typical of her caring spirit, she ministered faithfully to eldest son Larry, and later her husband, as they each struggled with terminal illnesses. Engaged as ever up until the end, Evy had an encyclopedic knowledge of culture, restaurants, politics, sports (she loved the Spurs), and details on the well being of her friends and family. A week prior to her death, one of her children received a birthday card from her that read, in part, "You've added so much happiness to our family that it's hard to imagine what life would have been without you." Now, we are left to ponder what life is going to be like without her. And while we will grieve, our sadness is tempered by the legacy of life, love, and laughter she leaves us, as well as the belief in the promise of our Savior: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Evy was preceded in death by Fred, her husband of 58 years, and eldest son, Larry.
She is survived by sons, Michael (Debbie) Backlund, their children, David (Annie) and Laura (Justin); Tim (Diana) Backlund and their son, Austin; daughter, DeAnn (Bill) Fisher, and their sons, Kyle (Christina), Cory, Connor, Colin; daughter-in-law, Vicki McCoy, and her daughters, Kim, Kari (Mark) and Kelly (Brad); Jay Burrage, great grandchildren, Sydnee, Bailey, Tyler, Riley, Electra, Chloe, Jake, Charlie, Jackson, Will, Cy, William and Matthew; nieces, Jacque and JoAnn and their families; as well as friends too numerous to mention.
Friends and family bear testimony to a life well lived: So many times we were privileged to hear many say, "Such a beautiful lady; We have sweet memories of your mom; One of the most amazing women I've ever known; Your mom was a fabulous lady!; She lived a long, loved life!; Beautiful, amazing lady, who loved her family more than anything!; She was a precious lady!; She has been like a mom to me since I lost mine and even long before; Lovely lady in body and spirit." These thoughts, and others, are a testimony less of what she did, but rather who, and whose, she was. Evy (Granma), as she was known to us, was born into a humble home as an only child in 1918 in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in 1936. She met Fred Backlund, the love of her life, at church as a teenager and eventually they married in Mineral Wells Texas, during WWII, just before he was sent to the European Theater. Shortly thereafter, she drove a Model A Ford with two friends from Minnesota to San Jose, California, to work as a bookkeeper in a wartime factory. After the war, husband and wife were reunited in Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked as a bookkeeper while Fred was employed as a dental technician. Life later took them to Clinton, Iowa, Waterford, Michigan, and finally to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, she gave birth to three sons, Larry, Mike, and Tim, as well as her "princess", daughter DeAnn. Evy worked at a variety of jobs, as a bookkeeper, secretary, and assistant librarian; she played the violin and sang for years in a number of church choirs; she loved traveling, reading, and socializing. But mostly, she reveled in the love of friends and family, and left waves of affection in her wake. Evy taught and modeled compassion, respect, humor and fidelity. Typical of her caring spirit, she ministered faithfully to eldest son Larry, and later her husband, as they each struggled with terminal illnesses. Engaged as ever up until the end, Evy had an encyclopedic knowledge of culture, restaurants, politics, sports (she loved the Spurs), and details on the well being of her friends and family. A week prior to her death, one of her children received a birthday card from her that read, in part, "You've added so much happiness to our family that it's hard to imagine what life would have been without you." Now, we are left to ponder what life is going to be like without her. And while we will grieve, our sadness is tempered by the legacy of life, love, and laughter she leaves us, as well as the belief in the promise of our Savior: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Evy was preceded in death by Fred, her husband of 58 years, and eldest son, Larry.
She is survived by sons, Michael (Debbie) Backlund, their children, David (Annie) and Laura (Justin); Tim (Diana) Backlund and their son, Austin; daughter, DeAnn (Bill) Fisher, and their sons, Kyle (Christina), Cory, Connor, Colin; daughter-in-law, Vicki McCoy, and her daughters, Kim, Kari (Mark) and Kelly (Brad); Jay Burrage, great grandchildren, Sydnee, Bailey, Tyler, Riley, Electra, Chloe, Jake, Charlie, Jackson, Will, Cy, William and Matthew; nieces, Jacque and JoAnn and their families; as well as friends too numerous to mention.
Can a simple life lived in an extraordinary fashion make a difference in our world? For those of us who knew Evelyn Samuelson Backlund, who died Friday at the age of 96, the answer would be a resounding yes.
Friends and family bear testimony to a life well lived: So many times we were privileged to hear many say, "Such a beautiful lady; We have sweet memories of your mom; One of the most amazing women I've ever known; Your mom was a fabulous lady!; She lived a long, loved life!; Beautiful, amazing lady, who loved her family more than anything!; She was a precious lady!; She has been like a mom to me since I lost mine and even long before; Lovely lady in body and spirit." These thoughts, and others, are a testimony less of what she did, but rather who, and whose, she was. Evy (Granma), as she was known to us, was born into a humble home as an only child in 1918 in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in 1936. She met Fred Backlund, the love of her life, at church as a teenager and eventually they married in Mineral Wells Texas, during WWII, just before he was sent to the European Theater. Shortly thereafter, she drove a Model A Ford with two friends from Minnesota to San Jose, California, to work as a bookkeeper in a wartime factory. After the war, husband and wife were reunited in Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked as a bookkeeper while Fred was employed as a dental technician. Life later took them to Clinton, Iowa, Waterford, Michigan, and finally to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, she gave birth to three sons, Larry, Mike, and Tim, as well as her "princess", daughter DeAnn. Evy worked at a variety of jobs, as a bookkeeper, secretary, and assistant librarian; she played the violin and sang for years in a number of church choirs; she loved traveling, reading, and socializing. But mostly, she reveled in the love of friends and family, and left waves of affection in her wake. Evy taught and modeled compassion, respect, humor and fidelity. Typical of her caring spirit, she ministered faithfully to eldest son Larry, and later her husband, as they each struggled with terminal illnesses. Engaged as ever up until the end, Evy had an encyclopedic knowledge of culture, restaurants, politics, sports (she loved the Spurs), and details on the well being of her friends and family. A week prior to her death, one of her children received a birthday card from her that read, in part, "You've added so much happiness to our family that it's hard to imagine what life would have been without you." Now, we are left to ponder what life is going to be like without her. And while we will grieve, our sadness is tempered by the legacy of life, love, and laughter she leaves us, as well as the belief in the promise of our Savior: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Evy was preceded in death by Fred, her husband of 58 years, and eldest son, Larry.
She is survived by sons, Michael (Debbie) Backlund, their children, David (Annie) and Laura (Justin); Tim (Diana) Backlund and their son, Austin; daughter, DeAnn (Bill) Fisher, and their sons, Kyle (Christina), Cory, Connor, Colin; daughter-in-law, Vicki McCoy, and her daughters, Kim, Kari (Mark) and Kelly (Brad); Jay Burrage, great grandchildren, Sydnee, Bailey, Tyler, Riley, Electra, Chloe, Jake, Charlie, Jackson, Will, Cy, William and Matthew; nieces, Jacque and JoAnn and their families; as well as friends too numerous to mention.
Friends and family bear testimony to a life well lived: So many times we were privileged to hear many say, "Such a beautiful lady; We have sweet memories of your mom; One of the most amazing women I've ever known; Your mom was a fabulous lady!; She lived a long, loved life!; Beautiful, amazing lady, who loved her family more than anything!; She was a precious lady!; She has been like a mom to me since I lost mine and even long before; Lovely lady in body and spirit." These thoughts, and others, are a testimony less of what she did, but rather who, and whose, she was. Evy (Granma), as she was known to us, was born into a humble home as an only child in 1918 in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in 1936. She met Fred Backlund, the love of her life, at church as a teenager and eventually they married in Mineral Wells Texas, during WWII, just before he was sent to the European Theater. Shortly thereafter, she drove a Model A Ford with two friends from Minnesota to San Jose, California, to work as a bookkeeper in a wartime factory. After the war, husband and wife were reunited in Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked as a bookkeeper while Fred was employed as a dental technician. Life later took them to Clinton, Iowa, Waterford, Michigan, and finally to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, she gave birth to three sons, Larry, Mike, and Tim, as well as her "princess", daughter DeAnn. Evy worked at a variety of jobs, as a bookkeeper, secretary, and assistant librarian; she played the violin and sang for years in a number of church choirs; she loved traveling, reading, and socializing. But mostly, she reveled in the love of friends and family, and left waves of affection in her wake. Evy taught and modeled compassion, respect, humor and fidelity. Typical of her caring spirit, she ministered faithfully to eldest son Larry, and later her husband, as they each struggled with terminal illnesses. Engaged as ever up until the end, Evy had an encyclopedic knowledge of culture, restaurants, politics, sports (she loved the Spurs), and details on the well being of her friends and family. A week prior to her death, one of her children received a birthday card from her that read, in part, "You've added so much happiness to our family that it's hard to imagine what life would have been without you." Now, we are left to ponder what life is going to be like without her. And while we will grieve, our sadness is tempered by the legacy of life, love, and laughter she leaves us, as well as the belief in the promise of our Savior: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Evy was preceded in death by Fred, her husband of 58 years, and eldest son, Larry.
She is survived by sons, Michael (Debbie) Backlund, their children, David (Annie) and Laura (Justin); Tim (Diana) Backlund and their son, Austin; daughter, DeAnn (Bill) Fisher, and their sons, Kyle (Christina), Cory, Connor, Colin; daughter-in-law, Vicki McCoy, and her daughters, Kim, Kari (Mark) and Kelly (Brad); Jay Burrage, great grandchildren, Sydnee, Bailey, Tyler, Riley, Electra, Chloe, Jake, Charlie, Jackson, Will, Cy, William and Matthew; nieces, Jacque and JoAnn and their families; as well as friends too numerous to mention.
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